Expanded Metal

Looking for an expanded metal sheet that actually matches your spec sheet? AMMS Global manufactures expanded metal mesh in carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, in both standard and flattened patterns. We cut and expand to your opening size, gauge, and sheet dimensions, then ship worldwide.

If you need expanded metal steel for a walkway or a smooth flattened panel for a fence line, we can quote it fast and build it to spec.

What Is Expanded Metal, Exactly?

Expanded metal starts as a solid sheet of metal. A machine slits it in a repeating pattern and stretches it open, which forms the familiar diamond mesh. Nothing gets cut away and thrown out, unlike perforated metal where holes are punched and the scrap goes in the bin. That's part of why expanded metal sheet tends to be cheaper per square foot than perforated alternatives.

Because it's one continuous piece of metal instead of woven or welded strands, it doesn't come apart the way wire mesh can. Pull on one part of an expanded metal panel and the whole sheet shares the load. That's the main reason engineers reach for it on anything load-bearing.

Standard vs. Flattened: Which One Do You Need?

We manufacture both, and the right one really depends on what the panel has to do.

Standard expanded metal keeps the diamond strands raised, the way they come off the stretching machine. Those raised edges bite into your boots, which is exactly what you want on a ramp, catwalk, or grating floor. It's not the easiest surface to paint evenly, but nobody's buying grating for looks.

Flattened expanded metal gets run through a roller afterward, which presses the strands down flat on both sides. You lose some of that grip, but you gain a smooth, even surface that welds cleanly and takes paint or powder coat without any trouble. Most fencing, machine guards, and cabinet panels use flattened stock for that reason.

	Standard	Flattened
Surface	Raised diamond strands	Flat, rolled smooth
Grip / traction	High	Low, not for walking on
Typical use	Ramps, catwalks, grating	Fencing, guards, panels
Paint & weld	Harder to coat evenly	Coats and welds well
Common gauge	10 to 3 gauge	13 to 7 gauge

Steel, Stainless, or Aluminum?

The mesh pattern is only half the decision. The base metal matters just as much:

• Carbon steel is the workhorse. Cheapest option, strong, fine for indoor or dry industrial settings.

• Stainless steel costs more but shrugs off rust and chemical exposure, so it's the go-to for food plants, marine sites, or anything left outdoors long term.

• Aluminum is light and naturally corrosion-resistant. A lot of architects specify it for facades and decorative screening because it doesn't rust and it's easy to handle.

• Galvanized steel splits the difference: carbon steel with a zinc coating, giving you decent corrosion protection without paying stainless prices.

Applications of Expanded Metal Mesh 

• Security fencing and window guards

• Machine guarding on plant floors

• Walkways, catwalks, and stair treads

• Ventilation grilles and filtration screens

• Building facades and architectural screening

• Cable trays, shelving, and wire baskets

Why Buy Expanded Metal From AMMS Global

We build expanded metal to order rather than pulling from a fixed catalog, so you're not stuck choosing between two stock sizes:

• Custom opening size, gauge, and sheet dimensions to your drawing

• Standard and flattened options, in steel, stainless, or aluminum

• Bulk runs or cut-to-size sheets, whichever fits the job

• Quotes back within 24 hours

• We ship internationally, not just locally

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Expanded Metal Specifications

Before you buy expanded metal, there are really just three numbers that matter:

1. Opening size, written as short way by long way, like 1-3/4" x 1"

2. Gauge, how thick the metal was before it got expanded

3. Open area percentage, roughly how much of the sheet is open space versus solid metal

Tell us what the panel needs to do and we'll suggest the opening size and gauge that fits. No need to guess.

Common Questions

1. What are the common uses of expanded metal?

Mostly things that need to let air, light, or sound through while still blocking anything bigger than the mesh openings. That covers fencing, machine guards, walkways, filtration screens, and building facades. It's a functional material first, decorative second, though plenty of architects use it purely for the look.

2. Will expanded metal rust?

Plain carbon steel will, if it's left uncoated and exposed to moisture. Galvanizing buys you some protection, but for coastal, humid, or chemical-heavy environments, stainless steel or aluminum is the safer call since neither one rusts the way bare carbon steel does. If you're not sure which grade your site needs, tell us the environment and we'll point you to the right material.

3. What are the disadvantages of expanded metal?

The freshly cut diamond edges can be sharp, so standard (raised) mesh often needs deburring before it's safe to handle bare-handed. It's also not the best choice where you need a fully smooth or weatherproof surface, since flattened stock closes that gap but standard doesn't. And because the expansion process increases the exposed surface area of the metal, uncoated carbon steel versions can corrode faster than an equivalent solid sheet would.

4. What are the sizes of expanded metal?

Size comes down to three numbers: the opening size (short way by long way, like 1-3/4" x 1"), the gauge or thickness of the base metal, and the open area percentage, which is roughly how much of the sheet is empty space versus solid metal. Sheet dimensions are typically standard sizes or cut-to-size, depending on what you order. Give us those specs, or just describe the application, and we'll match you to the right size.